mind the space engl

On Friday, the 15th of September 2017 the “Award for Art Project Spaces and Initiatives” will be presented by State Secretary Torsten Wöhlert. The event is organised by the Network of Independent Berlin Project Spaces and Initiatives on behalf of the Senate Department of Culture and Europe. Coinciding with the Berlin Art Week, 20 prizewinning Berlin project spaces and initiatives will have exhibitions and events in their spaces.

IT’S SPACETIME! Can independent project spaces and initiatives escape the imminent threat of being pushed out of the city? What measures, concepts and connections will it take to prevent this from happening? Now is the time for action – and vision!

The squeeze is on! The mechanisms of gentrification associated with the capitalist system are rapidly gaining momentum in the growing metropolis of Berlin. Always more of a quiet ‘village’ despite its vibrant cultural scene, Berlin has now been almost completely carved up and sold off. And any hard-won ‘creative status’ is now up for negotiation, as the situation becomes precarious for art-makers who rely on spaces outside of their own living quarters to be able to work. Spaces that are now being taken over by the rich! What kind of activism is advisable? Who must the initiators of project and art spaces convince and with what concepts? Is the job of convincing really their concern? Is every story over at some point? For instance, that of the ‘global capital’ of independent project spaces and initiatives?
Initial indications of a change in policy – an ‘Agenda Room’ dedicated to supporting multidisciplinary work spaces – are perhaps a tentative sign of good will. But is the matter really receiving enough attention and support? Or can the urban space only be reclaimed through squatting? It is high time to turn our attention to the question of (free) space – ‘Mind the Space’ – let’s get down to it!

7:30-9:00 pmOfficial Award Ceremonyby the State Secretary for Culture Dr. Torsten Wöhlert with a presentation of the 20 awarded spaces 2017

9:00 pmPerformance-Acts, DJ-Sets + Party

Audio Ballerinas
Since the beginning of the eighties, Benoît Maubrey has been building interactive sound sculptures and electroacoustic sound costumes in Berlin. AUDIO BALLERINAS are a performance project with dancers and sounding dancing piles made of plexiglass. The „Audio Tutus“ are interactive electronic musical instruments, which enable a completely autonomous functioning of the sound generation and playback. The AUDIO BALLERINAS are simultaneously musicians and dancers. Through improvised body movements and strict choreographies they produce and change the sounds. (Photo: Benoît Maubrey)

Andy „Stewlocks” Ninvalle
_“AN IMPROVISED MUSIC AND VOCAL SOUNDSCAPE WITH RAP AND SPOKEN WORDS POETRY“ Andy Ninvalle is a Guyanese born hiphop artist who began as a breakdancer but has developed into an impressive dance choreographer, rapper, reggae toaster, beatboxer and spoken words poet. He also does song writing and produces music. Andy has collaborated with numerous artists including Run DMC, India Arie, Dee Dee Bridgewaters, Michal Urbaniak, Earthwind and Fire and Candy Dulfer.

Khan of Finland
Khan Of Finland is an even bigger diva than all the divas he has already worked with so far: Diamanda Galas, Kim Gordon, Brigitte Fontaine, Julee Cruise, Julia Kent just to name a few. He presented his photo book/box set “Angels Of Disguise” at Dokumenta13 and is currently touring his latest studio album “Nicht Nur Sex” out now on Shitkatapult worldwide.
(Photo: Christian Sommer)

CargoCult und ZONA DYNAMICare two project initiatives without a permanent venue and prizewinners of this year’s ‘Award for Art Project Spaces and Initiatives’. The exhibition comprises installations and performative formats framed by a selection of short art films, videos, and animations on the subject of ‘city-space’. The events accompanying the award ceremony held by the Senate Department for Culture and Europe are organised by the Network of Independent Project Spaces and Initiatives.

CargoCult presents the SLEEPING BEAUTY ENCYCLOPEDIA III/∞, accompanied by a mixture of performances and film documentations. With the friendly support of the Bank of Trust (BOT). Guests: Ofrin, Alex Stolze, Kevin Power (DLP), Emma Waltraud Howes, Julia Rosa Stöckel, Abelina Glanz (Curator).

ZONA DYNAMIC will include two project series, Voyeurs and One Wall One Piece. The exhibition will showcase a new series of performances set inside the Voyeurs cube, as well as video documentation of the Voyeurs performances that were held throughout Berlin public spaces.

accompanied by a mixture of performances and film documentations. With the friendly support of the Bank of Trust (BOT). Guests: Ofrin, Alex Stolze, Kevin Power (DLP), Emma Waltraud Howes, Julia Rosa Stöckel, Abelina Glanz (Curator).

ZONA DYNAMIC

ZONA DYNAMIC will include two project series, Voyeurs and One Wall One Piece.

The exhibition will showcase a new series of performances set inside the Voyeurs cube, as well as video documentation of the Voyeurs performances that were held throughout Berlin public spaces.